CES 2016 Innovation Awards

The CES Innovation Awards is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. On-site, you can view the honorees at CES Tech West in the Innovation Awards Showcase.

adidas Smart Ball

Smart Ball is a soccer ball with an integrated sensor that detects speed, spin, flight path and impact point. Kick data is transmitted wirelessly over Bluetooth Smart where it is displayed in a highly visual way.

Edyn Garden Sensor and Water Valve

Edyn is a smart gardening system that monitors and tracks environmental conditions to maximize plant health. The system includes the Edyn Garden Sensor, Edyn Water Valve and Edyn App, which review plant soil and make smart recommendations about what to plant, when to water and fertilize.

Estelon Extreme

A revolutionary new flagship loudspeaker from Estelon: “Extreme” - a monumental sculpture of a speaker that is capable of reproducing the highest quality soundscape, where the speaker itself completely disappears as the sound source.

iCam HD Pro

iCam HD Pro is Amaryllo's newest entry to the home security market. It is an innovative home security camera featuring full HD video, object tracking, multi-viewing, and 360° of rotation giving the user complete control over their home anywhere.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Wireless Handset Accessories

iHealth Align

This powerful glucose meter plugs directly into your smartphone’s headphone jack and displays results instantly on the phone screen using a mobile app. Its compact size and mobile capability make it the most convenient tool for diabetes management.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Home Appliances

Multi-function Air light (Z-Air)

Z-Air is a ceiling fan with concealed blades, air purification, and LED lamp integrated together into a sleek and aesthetically pleasing dome. Simple and easy installation plus smart automation for hassle-free use and operation.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies

NightHawk

NightHawk is a semi-open, over-ear headphone which represents a huge leap in high-end headphone design & engineering, featuring several patented inventions, mind-bending eco-friendly materials and performance that bests even the most pricey flagships.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Wireless Handset Accessories

Noke

Noke is the world's first bluetooth-enabled padlock. Protect your property and belongings without the hassle of keys or combinations. Share access with others via the Noke app with the tap of a button.

Qualcomm® WiPower ™

Qualcomm’s WiPower™ enables wireless charging through radio frequencies and provides greater flexibility for design and installation into phones and other applications like vehicles, office and home furniture, and communal spaces.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Video Displays

Samsung 105-inch UN105S9B, the World’s First and Largest Bendable SUHD TV

Samsung's 105-inch UN105S9B is the World's first and largest bendable SUHD TV. With a 21:9 aspect ratio, true-to-life color expression and high contrast, this groundbreaking model sets a new bar for the cinematic viewing experience at home.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Wireless Handsets

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

The Galaxy Note Edge blends the best of the Note 4 experience with an intuitive second screen, evolved S Pen and superior viewing experience to create the most innovative and powerful mobile experience on the market.

The Eye Tribe Tracker

The Eye Tribe Tracker - this small device represents a major breakthrough in eye tracking. It is the world’s smallest eye tracker, the first to use USB 3.0 and the only alternative below the magical price point of $100.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Tablets, E-Readers and Mobile Computing

Venue 8 7000 Series

Innovation in its thinnest form: The new Dell Venue 8 is the thinnest tablet in the world at 6mm thin and is the first in the world with the Intel® RealSense™ Snapshot Depth Camera. Also features best tablet display technology and new Dell Gallery.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Smart Home

Whirlpool® HybridCare™ clothes dryer with Hybrid Heat Pump technology

The new Whirlpool® HybridCare™ clothes dryer with Hybrid Heat Pump technology is designed to regenerate energy during the drying cycle to reduce energy consumption while providing dryer speed performance and flexibility.

BEST OF INNOVATIONS: Computer Accessories

ZUtA Pocket Printer

We re-imagined the printer to fit today's "on-the-go" working space. We created a little robot that runs on the paper and lays the ink while doing so. The printer is small in size, yet can print on any size of paper -- making a truly mobile printer!

Award Categories

The 2016 award categories include:

3D Printing

Accessible Tech

Computer Accessories

Computer Hardware and Components

Computer Peripherals

Digital Imaging

Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies

Embedded Technologies

Fitness, Sports and Biotech

Gaming and Virtual Reality

Headphones

High Performance Home Audio/Video

Home Appliances

Home Audio/Video Components and Accessories

In-Vehicle Audio/Video

Portable Media Players and Accessories

Portable Power

Smart Home

Software and Mobile Apps

Tablets, E-Readers and Mobile Computing

Tech For A Better World

Unmanned Systems and Accessories

Vehicle Intelligence

Video Displays

Wearable Technologies

Wireless Handset Accessories

Wireless Handsets

How to Enter

Submit Your Entry

Visit the Innovation Awards Call for Entries page between August 10 and September 16.

Complete, submit and pay for your entry online between Monday, August 10 and Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Emailed and/or hard copy submission forms are will not be accepted.

You will be notified by email on October 15, 2015 with your award status.

Please Note: You must provide a minimum of two different high resolution photos of your product (we encourage more) along with your written entry submission.

Entry Qualifications
Entries must qualify for each of the following criteria:

Products entered must fit within one of the official award categories.

Products entered must be available for sale to the public, for the first time, in U.S. retail outlets or on the Internet between April 1, 2015, and April 1, 2016.

If you are a CES 2016 exhibitor, one sample of your Innovation Honoree product (prototype or the final product) must be available for display in the Innovation Showcase at CES 2016, January 6-9, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Best of Innovation Honorees must allow CEA to hold one sample of the product for up to one year, for display at other CEA-related events.

Unless you indicate otherwise on your application, Honorees will be announced at CES Unveiled New York, November 10, 2015 and will be included in the launch of the Honoree listings on CESweb, also on November 10.

Companies not exhibiting at CES may also enter the 2016 Innovation Awards; however, restrictions apply if selected as an Honoree.

Fee Schedule: Early Bird Entry Fee (for the first 300 entries)

Exhibiting CEA Members: $275
Exhibiting Non-Members: $600

Non-Exhibiting CEA Members: $750
Non-Exhibiting Non-Members: $1,100

Fee Schedule: Regular Entry Fee

Exhibiting CEA Members: $475
Exhibiting Non-Members: $800

Non-Exhibiting CEA Members: $950
Non-Exhibiting Non-Members: $1,300

Deadlines

Online Entry Process Opens: August 10, 2015

Online Entry Process Ends: September 16, 2015

Innovation Awards Judging: September 23 - October 9, 2015

Entrants Notified of Award Status: October 15, 2015

Innovation Honorees Announced: November 10, 2015

Contest Rules

Companies that are not exhibiting at CES 2016 may enter the Innovation Awards competition. However, non-exhibitor Honoree products will not be included for display in the Innovation Showcase at CES and will not be listed in the on-site Honoree directory in It Is Innovation, unless the company pays for an exhibit space by October 23, 2015. If a company has fully paid for an exhibit space by October 23, 2015, they can be listed in the on-site directory and have their product displayed in the Showcase.

Entries must be submitted online through the Call for Entries portal by September 16, 2015.

Entries submitted in a previous year are not eligible for resubmission; however, if significant improvements have been made to the original product and/or significant enhancements that are truly unique and innovative, then the new model will be eligible for submission. If an entry of a similar model previously submitted is disqualified, the entry fees will not be refunded.

At least two DIFFERENT product photographs must accompany each entry. Computer renderings are not preferred and may result in reduced scores from the judges. Entries may include up to five photos. Photos must be submitted in a .jpg format. Each photo should be less than 8MB. All photos must be submitted via the online submission process. Emailed and hard-copy photos will not be accepted.

All entry forms are the property of CEA. We suggest you print or make a copy of your submission for your records.

An entry is qualified for judging when all required sections of the online entry tool are completed and entry fees have been paid in full. If the wrong entry fee is paid at the time of submission, the entry will be disqualified if the balance is not rectified by September 21, 2015.

Incomplete and unpaid entries will be disqualified. CEA is not responsible for follow-up of incomplete entries. If you are unsure if your entry is complete, please contact us at InnovationAwards@ce.org.

Entries must be paid online at the time of submission, using a credit card. Check and invoice payments are not accepted.

To evaluate an entry, the judges may ask for additional information, including a request to provide a product sample.

If improperly categorized, an entry may be moved to a different category based on the recommendation of the judging panel, without consent from the entrant.

CEA reserves the exclusive right to set, modify and interpret all conditions regarding this competition without claim for damage or recourse of any kind.

Each company selected as an Honoree grants CEA permission, without compensation, to use its name and photograph/likeness and/or entry in promoting this or similar awards programs in the future.

Materials must meet CEA standards for appropriate product presentation and taste and may be asked to be resubmitted or disqualified at any time, if they are deemed inappropriate. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage the Innovation Awards website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Call for Entries may be in violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, all entries submitted by such person will be disqualified. CEA reserves the right to seek damages from any such person fully permitted by law.

In the event a virus compromises the competition, non-authorized human intervention, tampering, or other causes beyond the reasonable control of CEA, which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness, or proper operation of the Call for Entries, CEA reserves the right in its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Call for Entries. Should the Call for Entries be terminated prior to the stated closing date, CEA reserves the right to announce honorees based on the nominations received before the termination date.

CEA reserves the right to rescind any awards granted to honorees that have misrepresented their product or entry in this competition.

How We Judge

Each product category has a three-member judging team comprised of an independent industrial designer, an independent engineer and a member of the trade press.

The three-member judging team gives a numerical value to each of the below criteria. The scores are combined, resulting in a cumulative score for each product. A baseline value is derived from the cumulative scores in a category. All scores above the baseline are designated as Honorees.

The Best of Innovation Award will be awarded to the highest-rated product in each category, as long as that product surpasses a previously-determined minimum score. If the highest-rated product in a category does not surpass the minimum score, there will be no Best of Innovation Award for that category. All award designations by our judges are final.

Entries are evaluated on the following criteria:

General Entries

1. Engineering qualities
2. Aesthetic and design qualities
3. The product's intended use/function and user value
4. Why the product deserves the Innovation Award, including specifics regarding its unique/novel features and features that consumers would find attractive
5. How the design and innovation of this product directly compare to other products in the market place

Software and Mobile Apps Entries

1. Intended use, function, and user value
2. Aesthetic and visual qualities
3. Perceived ease of use/user-friendliness
4. Why the software deserves the Innovation Award, including specifics regarding its unique/novel features and features that consumers would find attractive
5. How the design and innovation of this software directly compare to other products in the market place

Tech For A Better World Entries

1. Engineering qualities
2. Aesthetic and design qualities
3. The product's intended use/function and user value, specifically in regard to how it can make a positive impact to the quality of life for its users, or those affected by its use
4. Why the product deserves the Innovation Award, including specifics regarding its unique/novel features and features that consumers would find attractive
5. How the design and innovation of this product directly compare to other products in the market place

Best of Innovation Honorees receive additional exposure in product displays at CES Unveiled New York and CES Unveiled Las Vegas.

Innovation Honorees are often featured on the live radio broadcast of "Into Tomorrow" with Dave Graveline. This nationally syndicated consumer electronics radio program features interviews with CEOs, presidents and senior executives from the hottest companies exhibiting at CES live from the show floor.

Exposure on the official CES website within your respective product category; complete with company name, product images and description. The Innovation Awards pages are among the most heavily-trafficked pages, available year-round on CESweb.org/Innovation.

Best of Innovation Honorees have the opportunity to display their product at additional CEA events throughout the year.

Entry FAQs

Becoming a part of the CES Innovation Awards is not hard, but you still may have questions. We've answered a few common questions below.

Who is eligible to enter?

Anyone who manufactures, designs, engineers or promotes consumer electronics (CE) products marketed in the United States, or is an authorized agent of the organization or individual, that is authorized to submit entries.

What is the difference between Best of Innovation and the Honoree awards?

In the Innovation Awards program, there are two levels of Honorees. The first level is Honoree, and only a fraction of the products entered achieve this title. The second level, Best of Innovation, is a more exclusive award that is given to the highest-rated product in each category, as long as that product scored above a pre-determined score threshold. If the highest-rated product in a certain category did not pass the Best of Innovation score threshold, that category has no Best of Innovation award.

My company is a brand new startup with only a few employees and nothing but a prototype that hasn't hit the market. Do I stand a chance of receiving an award?

Absolutely! The wonderful thing about the Innovation Awards is that a product's score is based on engineering and design qualities, innovation and value provided to the consumer. We admire brilliant products, so there’s no difference if your company has been around for a month or a century, operates globally or locally, or has 10 employees or 10,000.

What is the Innovation Showcase?

The Innovation Showcase is a designated area of the CES show floor where the Honoree products are put on display for the world to see. It is a very high-traffic area and one of the most popular destinations at CES. Innovation Honoree products are encouraged to send a product sample to the area for display, free of charge, as long as the company is a CES exhibitor.

My product fits into multiple categories; which should I enter?

If you are only able to submit one entry, select the category that most completely encompasses your product, or in which you feel your product is most accurately described. However, we welcome you to submit the product into multiple categories, if you prefer. Each category is judged independently, so well-designed products often receive awards in multiple categories. A separate entry fee is required for each category entered.

Can an entry submitted last year be submitted again this year?

Entries submitted last year are most likely ineligible for submission this year, since the competition is limited to new products that become available to consumers from April 1, 2015 and no later than April 1, 2016. However, if you have developed a new model of the product that you feel is innovative and enhances the original product, you may submit an entry for the new model.

Do I have a word limit for questions on the entry form?

On the product-specific questions, we impose a limit of 500 words. You may also upload the technical specification sheet for your product. If you do not have a specification sheet, you may provide the same data in your own words (1,000 character limit).

What happens if my entry is not complete?

An entry is qualified for judging when all required sections are completed, images are included, and all entry fees have been paid. While CEA is not responsible for the follow-up of incomplete entries, we will attempt to notify entrants of the status of their entry. Ultimately, it is the entrants’ responsibility to ensure the entry is complete. Unpaid entries will be disqualified. Entry fees are non-refundable.

If I secure space for CES after submitting my Innovation Awards entry, can I receive a partial refund on my Innovation Awards entry fee?

If you are not a CES exhibitor at the time that you submit your Innovation Awards application, you can still become an official exhibitor and receive a partial refund up until October 14, 2015. After October 14, we are unable to issue partial refunds. Contact us at InnovationAwards@ce.org for more information on receiving a refund.

When will I find out if my product has been selected to receive an award?

All applicants will be notified by email on October 15, 2015 of their award status. If selected as an Honoree, you are requested to confirm information included in your entry. It is essential that we receive this information for the Honoree announcement at CES Unveiled New York on November 10, 2015.

The Process

Entries Judged: September 23-October 9

Each award category is judged by a three-member panel consisting of an independent industrial designer, engineer or industry analyst and a member of the trade press. Each entry takes approximately 10-15 minutes to evaluate; depending on the number of entries per category, judging may take anywhere from 3-15 hours to complete. Each judge may specify their commitment level, to ensure that an appropriate number of products is assigned for judging.

Judges are notified of their selection status in mid-September. All Innovation Awards judges must be registered for CES 2016.

The Benefits

As a judge for the most prestigious award in the industry, not only will you be the first to see the newest products in the CE industry, you’ll also have the opportunity to network with other preeminent industry professionals. Selected judges receive an invitation to CES Unveiled New York for the announcement of the Innovation Awards Honorees and an invitation to Unveiled Las Vegas. In addition, judges are recognized throughout the year on CESweb.org/Innovation and receive a special designation for their CES badge to acknowledge their status as a CES 2016 Innovation Awards Judge.